For Immediate Release: 2/24/2021 11:01 am
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update:
To date, there have been 20,207 overall confirmed positive cases in Worcester. That is an increase of 336 cases since the City’s last COVID update on Thursday, Feb. 4.
There were 51 new cases today.
As of today, the 7-day average is down to 48 new cases per day, down from 78 on Feb. 11.
Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 2,467 (increase of 55); Holden: 1,225 (increase of 21); Grafton: 959 (increase of 18)
UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital have a combined total of 79 COVID-positive in-patients (decrease of 40) and 30 total COVID-positive ICU patients (decrease of 7). To date, the combined facilities have had 666 COVID-related deaths (increase of 24). A total of 1,728 employees have tested positive for the virus (increase of 8). All changes are from last week’s report.
There have been 399 deaths of Worcester residents, an increase of 7 since last week.
There are 7 positive in-patients at the DCU Field Hospital as of today.
To date, the City has administered 6,288 vaccinations, including 5,676 at the Senior Center and 612 mobile vaccinations at congregate settings, including homeless shelters.
The City has begun administering second doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and has vaccinated 974 seniors; 26 have received their second dose.
Among First Responders, Police have received 340 first doses, and 320 second doses. Firefighters have received 311 first doses and 287 second doses. Communications have received 37 first doses and 21 second doses.
Gov. Baker announced the following individuals are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine: individuals 65-plus, individuals 16-plus with two or more specific medical conditions, including asthma; and residents and staff of public and private low-income and affordable senior housing. This opens up vaccinations to an additional 1 million people across the state.
A complete list of qualifying medical conditions and other elibibility criteria can be found at www.mass.gov/covid19vaccine.
There are more than 170 vaccination locations in Massachusetts, including 7 in Worcester. With high demand, appointments can be difficult to make. People are encouraged to continue looking for appointments by visiting vaxfinder.mass.gov.
Individuals who are unable to access appointments online can call 211 for assistance.
The state Department of Public Health identified the City of Worcester as 1 of 20 cities most disporportionately impacted by COVID-19. To increase awareness of the vaccine's safety and efficacy, and to reduce barriers to the vaccination, the state DPH will assist each of the 20 cities with $1 million in support and resources.
The City's first large-scale vaccination clinic opened at Worcester State University, in partnership with Saint Vincent Hospital and Commonwealth Medicine. The site was expected to have administered 4,200 vaccinations in its first week of operations.
